EPIC holders to be given priority during polling in MP

Bhopal, Nov 20 (UNI) The Election Commission has decided to give priority to the voters with Elector Photo Identity Card (EPIC) than non-card holders while casting vote for the November 27 polling in Madhya Pradesh.

Mahdya Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer J S Mathur told reporters here that more than 90 percent EPIC had already distributed in the state and it would be a big leap to organise free and fair polling in the state.

He said two separate queues would be arranged for the EPIC and non-EPIC holders and such arrangement was introduced to provide facility to the EPIC holders. The Presiding Officers in the polling booths would be kept a strong vigil to identify both categories of voters, he added.

Mr Mathur said those who do not have EPIC could exercise their franchise by using one alternative document, out of 13, prescribed by the EC.

He said if the EPIC and non-EPIC holders' family heads are having card while the others members are yet to get it, they could cast votes if the family head identify them.

To a query Mr Mathur said major errors of EPIC were being corrected by the district collectors.

About the proper usage of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), Mr Mathur said for the first time the EC had ordered to set up 'Dispatch Centre' in the vicinity of the booth s to help the voters and engineers would be deputed in the booths to attend the faulty EVMs.

Mr Mathur said micro observers would be deputed in the critical booths on the polling day to ensure free and fair polling.

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